Prosecutors want properties under Revilla aliases frozen, too

State prosecutors have asked the Sandiganbayan First Division to freeze the assets owned by detained Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and wife Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla that are listed under their aliases.

In February, the anti-graft court ordered its sheriff to freeze more than P200 million in Revilla’s assets in connection with the plunder and other cases he is facing related to his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

But in a motion and manifestation submitted Monday afternoon, state lawyers said that to ensure that Revilla will not be able to transfer any of his properties while the case is ongoing, all assets under his known aliases should also be frozen.

“The properties described in the Ex-Parte Motion belong to accused Revilla and his spouse and are also listed under their other names,” the prosecution said, adding that freezing all properties under the spouses’ names are in the interest of clarity.

“For purposes of clarity, it is respectfully prayed that properties under accused Revilla and his spouse’s other known names be likewise deemed covered in the subject writ of preliminary attachment,” the motion said.  

According to the prosecution, the Anti-Money Laundering Council investigation found that the senator also used the following names:

• Ramon Revilla Jr.
• “Bong”
• Jose Marie M. Bautista
• Jose Marie Mortel Bautista
• Ramon “Bong” Bautista Jr.
• Ramon “Bong” Bautista
• Jose Marie Bautista

For her part, Mercado has used the following aliases:

•  
• Lani Hernandez Mercado
• Jesusa Victoria Bautista
• Jesusa Victoria H. Bautista
• Lani Mercado Revilla

In 2009, the Revilla spouses, who are also both actors, legally changed their names. Revilla was born Jose Marie Bautista, but his legal name is now Ramon B. Bong Revilla Jr., the prosecution said. Mercado meanwhile had her name changed from Jesusa Victoria Garcia Hernandez to Lani Hernandez Mercado.

Revilla is facing plunder and graft charges before the anti-graft court's First Division over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

He is alleged to have channeled millions of pesos of his pork barrel allocations to bogus non-government organizations controlled by alleged mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.

Prosecutors asked for a garnishment order to ensure the payment or recovery of assets in case the accused is convicted of plunder. — Patricia Denise Chiu/BM, GMA News